A PENSIONER was thrown to the ground after a man grabbed her handbag in a daylight robbery.

The 76-year-old was walking along Roxburgh Street yesterday when the man, believed to be in his 20s, crept up behind her.

He snatched the bag, containing her purse with a quantity of money inside, and ran off.

The OAP was taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital as a precaution but was later allowed home with her family.

Detective Sergeant Alex Allardyce, of Greenock CID, said: "A 76-year-old female had been walking along Roxburgh Street at 5.30pm when a male suspect ran up behind her and grabbed her handbag. She fell to the ground and he ran off in the general direction of Wellington Street.

"This was a robbery of a vulnerable member of the public in broad daylight.

"Thankfully she is ok but she is shaken and will no doubt be looking over her shoulder when she goes out. It's terrible for something like that to happen to a lady of that age."

Police carried out door-to-door inquiries last night and will continue to do this today, as well as reviewing CCTV footage.

The robber is described as being in his 20s and was wearing a dark coloured hat.

Anyone with information should call Greenock CID on 101.